Australia has assured protection to Indian students: Krishna

Bangalore, May 29 (IANS) The Australian government Friday assured India it will protect Indian students from racial attacks in Melbourne and bring the culprits of recent attacks to justice, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said here. “Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Francis Smith spoke to me this afternoon. He assured me that Indian students would be protected from such attacks and the culprits would be brought to justice,” Krishna told reporters at his house in this tech hub.

Expressing concern over the unabated attacks, he said the Indian High Commission in Sydney was in constant touch with the Australian government and efforts were on to ensure safety of Indian students.

“Australia is a peace-loving country. I think it is an isolated incident. I told the minister (Smith) to ensure the safety of Indians studying there. Measures are being taken to prevent such racial attacks against our students,” Krishna noted.

Noting that there was a need to build confidence among the students who were caught in the vortex of such racial attacks, Krishna said the Indian high commission was directed to extend all help to the victims and take measures to maintain peace and harmony.

“India stands for friendly relations with all countries. We are for peaceful co-existence and cooperation. I am told there are about 80,000 Indian students pursuing their academic career in Australia,” Krishna averred.

Five Indian students were assaulted in allegedly racial attacks in Melbourne this week, leading to outrage in India.